My family and I want to go to someplace warm during our children's Christmas break. We have checked out Hawaii and Mexico (including cruises) and find that the prices are so greatly increased during this two week period as to make it unaffordable for us. Any suggestions on a warm place to go with beaches that don't jack up their prices for the holidays?

If it is above 75 degrees during the day, it will be expensive. Can you possibly drive to South Florida? That could save you airfare.

Janis, if you end up coming up empty, you may sometimes find late-breaking sales for people willing to fly ON the actual holidays of Christmas and/or New Year's Day.

Janis, you should have been looking in July and Aug. We flew last year to Fla. over Christmas and flew out on Christmas Eve and came back New Years Eve. It was a diaster!!! Disney had closed its gates over limits on Christmas Day. Everyone is high at Christmas time. Go someplace cool with an indoor pool....

My apologies if I offended anyone with my inquiry. Actually, we started looking a couple of months ago, but couldn't find any bargains for travel somewhere warm (we're from the Northwest). Posting here was a last resort. Obviously, I shouln't have done it. Again, my apologies.

Janis, I may have something that's helpful to you, but you'd have to run sample itineraries through to see if there is availability. E-mail me ASAP for instructions if you want to give it a try. (This is NOT an advertisement or any matter of personal gain).

Janis, have you thought about ditching the plans for someplace warm and heading to Europe? I'm not being sarcastic - there are some AMAZING deals right now - like NYC to London for $350 including HOTEL and AIR for 6 nights!! Might be a good way to get the family over there for not too much money. There is so much to see and do that they will never miss the beach! Try go-today.com (or is it gotoday.com ??) anyway there was an article in our Sunday paper about the great deals for Europe and this was one of the websites mentioned for booking. Good Luck!

Janis, you're not offending anyone but Christmas week is the absolute highest, busiest and most expensive week for travel of the entire year, and it would take a magician to find you a bargain at that time. They all jack up their prices for the holidays. Same thing applies for Presidents week. I know because we have the same weeks off.

The only hope you have is the lastminute sites. Check travelzoo.com daily starting in December and be ready to jump on anything you might see, it'll be gone in a matter of minutes.

Or, do as SEH says. There are great deals to London, and it would be bitterly cold. I know there are flights leaving Christmas day (night actually) that are still real bargains. It might be a good opprtunity to see Europe very cheaply.

Janis, don't be sorry for asking. That is what this site is intended for among other info as well. No need to be sorry. That being said, I also vote for the Europe idea. The only other choice is a cruise, that is last minute. They don't know till that week before, if people are going to be traveling. If they want to fill those ships up they run last minute specials. Europe, or a last minute deal is more than likely your only alternative at this time. Good luck.

I don't know if this would work for you but Rio is supposedly a deal and it is summer for them. How about cruises? Now is when the fares should start dropping. After November 1st, you should see a decline in pricing with everyone trying to unload inventory.

Hi Janis! Don't apologize for asking a question. Yes, it is expensive to go to Florida during Christmas. I've been going the first week of Jan for many years (that's when my break is from school).

I've also checked out the airfares to Europe (cuz I actually get the whole month of January off) and the fares are cheap right now. Otherwise what I usually do is start looking at airfare sites about 3 months before my intended date of travel and try to be a little flexible with the dates. The more people in your group, the less flexibility you have.

If it doesn't work out, don't let it discourage you from planning another vacation, another time. Half the fun is planning (and dreaming!)

Good luck!

No beaches, but you might try Palm Springs or Palm Desert.....or how about somewhere in Arizona?

Janis, I'm also not sure there's much choice other than last minute deals, but it would help if we knew what kind of budget you're working with for airfare/lodging for all of you (how many?) For example, maybe there'a someplace that hasn't jacked up its prices specifically for the holidays but is too expensive to begin with. Or, could be a place that's normally dirt cheap so doubling the prices would still be reasonable for you.

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know I just read about some great holiday specials. New Orleans (warm!) is having Papa Noel pricing; check out www.christmasneworleans.com.
And British Air just slashed prices to Europe (cold!) from several US airports.
Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

Janis:

I go to Florida every Christmas, but the other posters are right, so does half the population!! It's busy and expensive. Plane tickets are a rip off. I say it every year, but somehow manage to get an ok deal. This year I got the best deal I've gotten in a long time--just luck, I guess. Anyway, here are a few of my other suggestions: Costa Rica (WONDERFUL--Dec. is rainy season, but may be like a shoulder season where prices are a bit higher than low season, but not as high as high season. Worth the $$ either way.), Aruba is nice, and esp. Cayman although terribly expensive. Why not try other spots in the states like D.C. where there's not a lot of tourists at that time and not terribly cold, either. California is really nice, esp. San Francisco and northern CA. San Diego area is nice, too. I've seen some really cheap deals for cruises recently as well as CHEAP, CHEAP deals to London, Paris, etc. with air and hotel for under $500/person. I'm actually in the process of planning a trip myself for later in the winter/early spring. I can certanily pass along some of the sites I visit regularly if your interested. Drop me an e-mail if you'd like. Hope this gives you some ideas!!

Tia